Reporter Emily McAuliffe’s Multi-Gen Visit to Japan is Kawaii (Cute)
Emily McAuliffe is a Melbourne-based travel writer who recently visited Japan for two weeks with her partner, 10-month-old baby and parents. She tells Graeme Kemlo about the places and sites they visited across Osaka, Tokyo and Nara, and the hotels they found to cater for a family group. The blonde child was a big hit with the Japanese people, who often commented he was “kawaii” (cute)
The family-friendly hotels Emily stayed in were:
OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts, where they had four king single beds with a large living area in the middle and tatami flooring
https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/omo7osaka/
Swissotel Nankai Osaka, conveniently located above Namba station, providing easy access to major sites and the airport
https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/nankai-osaka/
MIMARU Tokyo Ikebukuro, which was a rare find for Tokyo, given they had a large two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and living area
https://mimaruhotels.com/en/hotel/ikebukuro/
Novotel Nara, a modern hotel opened in 2024, with a public bath (onsen), massage chairs and children’s playroom
https://all.accor.com/hotel/C166/index.en.shtml
Places visited included:
Osaka:
• Shinsekai area and the Tsutenkaku tower, tasting Osaka’s local specialties okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake), takoyaki (octopus balls) and kushikatsu (fried skewers) in the surrounding streets
• Dotonbori, Osaka’s main entertainment and dining district
• Osaka Castle
Tokyo:
• Tokyo Skytree
• Kawagoe (30 minutes on the train from Ikebukuro)
• Asakusa and the Sensoji temple
Nara:
• Nara Park
• Naramachi (Nara’s old town)
They also took a day trip from Osaka to the waterfront city of Kobe.Read More
